What should I wear to a New Year's Eve wedding?

While it's more than appropriate to wear something simple and classic to a New Year's Eve wedding, if you really want to embrace the theme (while still adhering to the dress code, of course), go bold with a sequin-embellished dress or opt for a gown in shimmering metallic like gold and silver.

What is festive attire?

Festive attire is typically a combination of dressy cocktail attire with hint of holiday flair. This means guests should opt for outfits in bold colors with fun details like sequin or bead embellishments.

What accessories can I wear with my New Year's Eve wedding guest outfit?

Depending on your personal style, you can either go for a statement-making look with bold and embellished jewelry or you can opt for a simple yet festive look by pairing your ensemble with clean and modern metallic accessories.

The 18 Best New Year's Eve Wedding Guest Dresses of 2022

sequin embellished dress — Courtesy of BHLDN

Few occasions call for all-out glamour, but the number one on our list is, without a doubt, a New Year's Eve wedding. As a guest, this is your red-carpet moment — an occasion to pull out all the stops. Sure, under normal circumstances, you wouldn't want to steal attention from the couple of honor. But on January 31, it's safe to assume the soon-to-be-wed selected the date for the increased merriment, making a dialed-up dress more than appropriate.

When deciding upon a New Year's Eve wedding guest dress, color, and style are big considerations. Dazzling numbers are indeed encouraged — think metallic hues, sequin-decked designs, and luxe fabrics with sheen. Jewel tones, vibrant colors, playful prints, and muted shades work, too — you'll look party-perfect in a shimmering slate, gleaming indigo, or sparkling sandstone.

Read on for the best New Year's Eve wedding guest dresses to usher in the new year and the newlyweds in style.

Our Top Picks

Best Unique Fabric:

Retrofête Doss Dress at Revolve

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Best Velvet:

Jenny Yoo Rory Velvet Dress at Anthropologie

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Most Unexpected Color:

Retrofête Gabrielle Sequin Robe at Retrofete.com

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Best Little Black Dress:

Reformation Brisbane Velvet Dress at Reformation

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Best Gold Sequin:

Eloquii Dolman Sleeve Sequin Dress at Eloquii.com

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Most Polished:

ASOS DESIGN Maxi Dress with Batwing Sleeve at Asos

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Best Embellishments:

Saloni Camille Dress at Amazon

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Most Festive:

Mango Sequined Dress at Mango.com

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Most Fun:

Hutch Take A Bow Tulle Mini Dress at Anthropologie

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Best Metallic:

Sabina Musayev Metallic Dress at Revolve

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Courtesy of Revolve

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Metallic fabrics are spot-on for New Year's Eve and more distinctive is a dress crafted from a shimmering fabric like lamé. The pin-thin spaghetti straps will beautifully enhance your neckline with a side split on the skirt for added allure.

Courtesy of Anthropologie

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When it comes to a cold-weather New Year's Eve wedding, you can never go wrong with a sumptuous velvet dress. This impossibly chic style from BHLDN would pair beautifully with gold accessories.

Courtesy of RetrofÃªte

View On Retrofete.com

We love a little black dress, but for more distinction, this shimmering lavender is so unexpected. Keep the rest of your look simple with minimal jewelry and a simple heel–this dress does all the talking.

Courtesy of Reformation

View On Reformation

This black velvet dress is simple yet striking, with an elegant neckline and a fitted waist. To give it a New Year's Eve wedding guest spin, add in a glimmering accessory or two — we're thinking a beaded mini bag and drop earrings.

Courtesy of Eloquii

View On Eloquii.com

Like with jewelry, some prefer gold over silver. If this is you, look no further than this gilded dress, featuring an empire waist, dramatic sleeves, and a thigh-high slit for a look that's both flattering and festive. This style also comes in green and black.

ASOS DESIGN Maxi Dress with Batwing Sleeve

Courtesy of ASOS

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This elegant batwing dress strikes a chord, though the clean lines ensure total elegance. Accent yours with heels and jewelry in polished silver for added shine.

Courtesy of Matchesfashion

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Nothing screams it's time to celebrate quite like a crystal-embellished number. In luxe black velvet and finished with faux pearl and crystal bow appliqués, this Saloni dress is sure to get you in the holiday spirit.

Courtesy of Mango

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The only way to make an all-over sequins dress even more eye-catching? Pick one in a bright color with a leg-baring silhouette–like this fuchsia number from Mango.

Courtesy of Anthropologie

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You'll make a wedding-guest statement in this strappy mini dress. Crafted from frothy tulle and featuring an oversized bow, this flirty mini is bound to leave a lasting impression.

Revolve

View On Revolve

This fun fringe dress is exactly what you need to take you from the reception to the dancefloor, to the afterparty. Style with black pumps to complement the black shoulder bows.

Courtesy of ASOS

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Though the silhouette is demure, liquid metallic fabric makes this dress a festive option for New Year's Eve. For extra razzle-dazzle, finish with diamond or rhinestone earrings.

Courtesy of Moda Operandi

View On Modaoperandi.com

Channel classic Hollywood glamour in this elegant gown by Brandon Maxwell. The décolletage-revealing off-the-shoulder neckline calls for dazzling earrings, while the fitted silhouette celebrates and accentuates your figure.

Courtesy of Amsale

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This fluid satin dress is stunning for a black-tie wedding, featuring an off-one-shoulder silhouette and bias column skirt. The pale green sheen is plenty festive with a pared-back design to suit minimalist tastes.

Courtesy of Anthropologie

View On Anthropologie

This sparkling iridescent dress features unique puff sleeves and an open back, exuding modern romance just right for a wedding. Add an extra layer of New Year's Eve shine with glittering heels and jewelry.

Courtesy of Bloomingdale's

View On Bloomingdales

This flirty high-neck number is perfect for those looking to add a festive little black dress to their holiday wardrobe. Complete with puff sleeves and boasting a foil star print–we can't think of a more festive look for a New Year's Eve wedding.

Courtesy of Lulus

View On Lulus

For the ultimate black-tie wedding look, you can't go wrong with this showstopping sequin gown. Its floor-length silhouette is perfect for a formal affair while the lace-up back and thigh-high slit add some sexiness to this glimmering gown.

Courtesy of Neiman Marcus

View On Neiman Marcus

With a tiered skirt and plunging neckline, this metallic mini is destined for an occasion like New Year's Eve. What's more, packed with multidimensional color, this shimmering dress catches the light from every angle.

Courtesy of & Other Stories

View On Stories.com

If you're stuck on what to wear to a New Year's Eve wedding, a safe bet will always be a sequin embellished dress. Wear yours with a bright lip and shoulder-grazing earrings.

What to Look for in a New Year's Eve Wedding Guest Outfit

A New Year's Eve wedding is the perfect occasion to dress up in something fun and statement-making–especially if the wedding invitation calls for festive attire. If you're looking to make a bold entrance, go for floor-length gowns in all-over shimmering sequins or beaded mini dresses that transition seamlessly from the ceremony to the after-party. More of a minimalist? You can never go wrong with a simple LBD that can easily be dressed up with festive accessories like statement-making earrings or dazzling metallic shoes.

FAQ

What should I wear to a New Year's Eve wedding?

While it's more than appropriate to wear something simple and classic to a New Year's Eve wedding, if you really want to embrace the theme (while still adhering to the dress code, of course), go bold with a sequin-embellished dress or opt for a gown in shimmering metallic like gold and silver.
What is festive attire?

Festive attire is typically a combination of dressy cocktail attire with hint of holiday flair. This means guests should opt for outfits in bold colors with fun details like sequin or bead embellishments.
What accessories can I wear with my New Year's Eve wedding guest outfit?

Depending on your personal style, you can either go for a statement-making look with bold and embellished jewelry or you can opt for a simple yet festive look by pairing your ensemble with clean and modern metallic accessories.

Why Trust Brides

Contributing writer Laura Lajiness covers fashion, accessories, and fine jewelry. Her work can be seen across various outlets, including ELLE, InStyle, Glamour, Refinery 29, The Zoe Report, Popsugar, Well+Good, and Barneys New York, among other titles and brands.

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